Posts Tagged ‘autism and nonverbal’
My Autistic Son Isn’t Giving Me a Hard Time
I read a quote a while back, at a pivotal time in my life really, that read… My child isn’t giving me a hard time…he is having a hard time. We had just finished up with an incredibly hard day. One that involved being out in the community. A ‘place’ that can feel scary to families like mine sometimes. Our son is autistic. He has autism. He was diagnosed at age 3. Back then so much of his diagnosis felt like a mystery, one that we were so desperately trying…
Read MoreThe Hero Who Helped Us Over Our Hurdles
I was a relatively new mom and had just experienced evaluations for speech, development, occupational, and physical therapy for my son Graham. But there was an even bigger hurdle…an Autism evaluation. I was told a referral was placed for the evaluation and that it could take time to get an appointment, so I was impatiently patiently waiting only to find out there was no appointment and there was no referral. Why? Because the facility the referral was sent to would not evaluate Graham due to him being under age three.…
Read MoreA Magical Place
When my son was diagnosed with autism at age three, I felt like I couldn’t reach him. I felt like he had this world, a secret one that I couldn’t enter. Some days I even felt like I would lose him to it. As if I was fighting to keep him here with me. I was scared of his world. It confused me. It worried me. Some days I felt like I should try and save him from it. He would laugh and cry and feel things that I couldn’t…
Read MoreI Wonder
My son, I wonder if you will always reach for my hand when we are walking. I wonder if you will always be precious and innocent. I wonder if you will always gasp at birds and at squirrels. I wonder if you will always point to airplanes. And wave to strangers. And bark when puppies walk by. I wonder if you will always run up to a mud puddle with such joy and excitement and then look back to get my attention before you jump in. I wonder if we…
Read MoreSilence and Sunshine
My son, This morning was one of those great mornings. You and I, sitting side-by-side, taking in the morning in our own familiar way. You on the couch surrounded by 7 fleece blankets and treasures. Me, right next to you in the recliner, feet up, drinking coffee. The news was going on about something or another but I couldn’t really hear it over the music blaring from your iPad. You were dancing to it. Every few seconds you would pick up my arm and move it with yours to the…
Read MoreThe Beginning of Our Autism Journey
When my first son Parker was born, he was a big baby with a ton of awesome hair. It was all I ever heard. People would say, “Look at all that hair!” I was one proud Dad! Not because of the hair, but because I always wanted to be a Dad! I was already starting to think about all the things we would do together. Play t-ball, pee wee football, soccer, basketball, hockey, go-karts, anything he wanted to do. He could grow up to be whoever he wanted to be,…
Read MoreOur Family Has Come so Far
One of the things I am practicing lately is reflection. Specifically, reflecting on how much has changed over the years. And how far our family has come. See that boy on the right with the amazing smile and giant yellow egg? His name is Sawyer and he was 4 years old. He is 8 years old now. And this is one of my most favorite pictures of him. It was Easter morning. I remember that Easter vividly. I remember handpicking every item for my boy’s baskets. I remember hiding every…
Read MoreI Wonder When You Wander
I wonder when you wander As you pace up and down the hall What it is you’re thinking As you run your fingers along the wall I wonder when you wander When you silently slip away What it is you feel inside As all the others continue to play I wonder when you wander What you want to say When you retreat back into your world To script and script away I wonder when you wander What it is you see When you take off from your safety net When…
Read MoreOn Our 10th World Autism Day, We Celebrate
Today is World Autism Day. This is our 10th one. As my son has gotten older, the meaning of the day has morphed for me. It used to be about education. Today, it’s about celebrating. Celebrating differences, celebrating progress, and celebrating a boy who has climbed far more mountains than I have. And ice cream and dancing. I have three boys. Three crazy, wild, busy, smart boys. Each of them is exactly who they are supposed to be. My oldest is autistic. There are a lot more words used to…
Read MoreMore Than Words Can Say
If you had asked me what communication meant five years ago, I would have answered without hesitation, “It’s conversation, talking and listening.” Then my daughter came along and showed me how limited that perception is. Evie is five and a half years old, and was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder three years ago. She doesn’t talk, not the way most people do. She does something called scripting, which for her means using words and phrases memorized from select shows, movies and songs to express herself. She throws them out like…
Read More